Retrial of football coach assaulted by ax incident - Football coach assaulted with an axe - court case resumes
In a shocking turn of events, the Zwickau Regional Court is currently retrying a 41-year-old man accused of brutally murdering his ex-coach with an ax two years ago. The defendant, whose identity remains undisclosed, had previously been sentenced to a prison term for manslaughter in May 2024. However, it is important to note that, based on the available search results, there is no direct information indicating that the defendant's conviction for manslaughter was overturned due to legal errors or that a retrial will take place.
The violent outburst in Lichtenstein (Saxony district) occurred on July 5, 2023, when the defendant allegedly lured his ex-coach into his apartment and attacked him from behind, striking him five times on the head with an ax. Each of these hard blows was sufficient to kill the man, according to prosecutor Barbara Gremm.
The defendant, during the trial, speaks softly and sometimes wipes tears from his eyes while answering the judge's questions. He finds it hard to believe how he could have been capable of such an act, stating that the violent outburst is incomprehensible and unfathomable to him.
Defence lawyer, Ines Kilian, claims that the victim sexually abused the defendant when he was a minor. Kilian also states that the defendant now remembers the sexual assaults very clearly. A new psychiatric expert hinted in court that he believes the sexual assaults actually happened, but will present his expert opinion on a later trial day.
The prosecution describes the act as cowardly and driven by low motives, seeking revenge for "suspected" abuse. The Federal Court of Justice overturned the first verdict, leading to the retrial at Zwickau Regional Court.
The defendant's head is bowed, and his hands are folded in front of him during the trial. He admits to the ax attack, but the outcome of the retrial remains uncertain. Four more trial days are currently planned until August 19.
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